Mi'kmaq Ecological Knowledge Distribution of Culturally Significant ...

Given the large list of Mi’kmaq culturally important plants, the large geographic area of
NewPage leased parcels, and Mi’kmaq plant gathering areas identified in the earlier phase,
it was determined that all Cape Breton Island would be mapped for all plant species
identified by Mi’kmaq Elders and gatherers. It was determined that a method of mapping
was required to represent each plant’s favoured supporting habitat in a single map specific
to each plant.
A plant species mapping and analysis-decision making tool for Mi’kmaq and project
partners must be explicit for duplication of results and accessible to a wide range of
technical skills, as to be understood by end-users consisting of Mi’kmaq community
leaders, residents, as well as project partners. The proposed plant mapping and analysis
method chosen is a revisit of the Grey Tone Method which was brought to prominence
by Ian McHarg in the 1960s. It revolutionized land-use planning at that time and forms the
foundation of modern GIS systems today.
A typical application of McHarg’s method consists of mapping individual environmental
factor maps relevant to the study, such as soil drainage, sun exposure, and habitat types.
Each of these environmental factor maps is then assessed a value with respect to suitability
for a particular land use or, in this case, suitable habitat for each plant species. In this
project, values assigned to supporting environmental factors are typically either supporting
or non-supporting, or characteristic to
the environmental factor, such as Full
Sun, Partial Shade, and Full Shade for the
environmental factor of Sun Exposure.
The values assigned to individual factors
with respect to supporting habitat are
typically arranged in the matrix tables of
environmental factors, and derived from
the accompanying explicit list of species
habitat requirements and assigned value.
All environmental factor matrix tables of
plant species and assigned values can be
found in the appendices.
Grey Tone Map Composition:
The resulting plant species’ potential
supporting habitat factor maps can be
viewed individually, but all relevant factor
maps must be viewed collectively for
analysis of the locations of High, Moderate,
and Low supporting potential values.
Overlaying shaded factor map transparencies
based on assessed values are used to
produce a composite graphic map of
habitat potential for each species of plant.
Base Map with Soil Drainage Layer added
Using the Grey Tone Method, each
potential supporting habitat value is
assigned a transparent grey or green value
of dark green for High supporting potential,
clear for Low supporting potential, and
medium green for Moderate supporting
potential. All the relevant factors maps and
their assigned grey levels are overlain with
each other to produce the composite map.
Add Surficial Geology Drainage Layer
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